I was originally going to write an open letter to Bioware, but I'm a nobody and they would never have seen it. Instead, I'm going to write a piece about why putting the likeness of Jessica Chobot in Mass Effect 3 is a terrible idea. I know they can't change it now, and I don't expect them to. But, man, what the fudge pop.

Okay, if you haven't seen it Bioware released a new video starring the real world cast behind the in-game characters. The usuals are there, Trisha Helfer, Seth Green, Kieth David, etc. There's one addition, so far, that seems out of place. That person is Jessica Chobot, and her in-game character looks atrocious. The resemblance is close enough to immediately recognize her, but it's so bad that she looks out of place among the rest of the cast. Her face seems saggy, I have a picture.

There are two reasons this is a bad idea.

1: While Joker, Seth Greens in-game character, shares a resemblance, he fits in with the rest of the universe. It isn't a close enough likeness that I'm taken out of the experience. While Jessica doesn't really have a saggy face, her character is immediately recognizable and I'm afraid is going to pull me down from the immersion high I'll be on moments before she enters the room. At least with Joker there's enough of a difference to where I have to stop and think about who he is in real life. With Jessica's, not even a second passes and I know, and the high is gone.

2. Her model looks grossly out of place in the game. There's something about her face that in all honestly frightens me a little. Jessica is a good looking women in real life, in the game I get the sense that she's 30 years older and smoked for as many. Nothing looks right about it.

I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to put her into the game, and why. Were they doing her a solid? Was this done hoping certain outlets might rate the game higher because they see a friends likeness there-in? I mean, I hope no one would do that. If your argument is “Many game industry people are featured in games.” then I have to again ask, why? Especially one that is so well known. Mass Effect is all about immersion, the dialogue system, the way it moves from conversations to action, everything is done to enhance immersion. When the likeness of a familiar face is injected I'm immediately reminded that yes, I am playing a game. All of the work to make me forget that fact is undone.

I'm just gonna say Felicia Day.
 
Bio (and EA) is doing everything to get as many hype as possible it seems to me...pull all the strings to get the most fans in.
But by doing so the fans who bought their previous rpg's and fully supported ME1 when it came out seem to feel more and more left out...which I can understand and share. 

I actually think Seth Green is great as Joker and I am willing to give Chobot a chance despite the fact I hate her but to be honest this is real off putting.

Edit: I would also like to add that all their other casting (call it stunt casting if you want) are actually real actors unlike Jessica Chobot.

@Coreymw said:

Especially one that is so well known. Mass Effect is all about immersion, the dialogue system, the way it moves from conversations to action, everything is done to enhance immersion. When the likeness of a familiar face is injected I'm immediately reminded that yes, I am playing a game. All of the work to make me forget that fact is undone.

This. I have a friend who screams at his TV whenever Joker talks because he hates Seth Green and can't get past it. I have to say, while I don't mind it, Kieth David's voice is so Iconic all I can think about is Kieth David when I hear Anderson talk. I also know some people who had a hard time w/ the latter half of Portal due to Cave Johnson's actor staring in all those Famers Insurance ads. Celebrity voices aren't always good to have.

I can't help but think that this all happened because Chobot worked and podcasted with another female who eventually went on to work for Bioware.

That looks like Snooki.

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. Didn't bother me in L.A. Noire, for some reason I saw Andy Serkis in Enslaved, and hell every time I see the Illusive Man I see Martin Sheen and it didn't break immersion for me. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

MIranda is modelled after her voice actor as well, Yvonne Strahovski, with just a different hair color, and she is a much more recognizable figure than Jessica Chobot. I would imagine the majority of people that will play the game won't know who she is. I don't really see a problem with this. Modelling real actors for use in game in nothing new, Male Shepard is based on a European model. Without hearing her performance and seeing her character in the actual game (screenshots aren't always the best judge of a game), I'm going to hold judgement.

I don't hate her. (Mainly because before yesterday or whenever that thread went up I had no idea she existed.) But I agree with the title of the thread.

@Lagaroth said:

I don't hate her. (Mainly because before yesterday or whenever that thread went up I had no idea she existed.) But I agree with the title of the thread.

She basically got famous on the internet for licking a PSP and then IGN hired her.

as long as she's a relatively minor part of the story I don't think I'll have a problem. Also... Freddie Prinze Jr. That is all.

Oh, please don't misunderstand me. I love Joker and Kieth David, and I don't hate Jessica. I don't mind recognizing the voices. It's the resemblances the characters have to their real world counterparts that bothers me. As I said, Joker and Keith David don't bother me because I don't immediately think "Oh man, that's Seth Green". I would be okay with Jessica's voice in the game if her in-game character looked less like her, and not so hideous. And again, there's the question of why. Why do this at all?

I suppose for some people it isn't going to matter, and that's okay, I have no issue with that. But when I sit down to play a Mass Effect game I kill the lights and immerse as much as possible. This is, I think, going to prevent me from doing so. Oh, but there are those who say "Then don't buy the game, no big deal." when it is a big deal, it's a big stinking deal. I can't not play the 3rd installment of a 3 series run for Shepard. I suppose I could kill off or never bring her character with me if that's an option.

I think she is going to be more recognizable to a lot of gamers than the others who are modeled after real life people. Martin Sheen's character looks nothing like him, but I think his voice is so distinct that it wouldn't matter what the character looked like, your brain just conjures up an image based on his voice alone. The model whom Shepard is based on isn't known at all really, at least not in America. And the woman who plays Miranda, well who is she? I can't think of a single time I've ever seen her real life counterpart.

If this weren't Jessica Chobot, you wouldn't give a shit. The ONLY and I mean the ONLY reasons you can legitimately care about this are 1) You don't like the character model outside of the fact that it is Chobot, or 2) You have a real problem with the sound of her voice. Other than that, you're just being an asshole.

You are an asshole for making an issue out of this. You and everyone else who gives a damn about her being in the game.

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

At least she's not a squadmate.

Chobot's inclusion in the game is a bit odd for sure, but whatever I guess. The main thing to me is the model of her they've shown is pretty aweful. Does her no favors, and the problem wouldn't be a big deal at all, but most gamers know of her, have seen her repeatedly, and it could really stick out and hurt the immersion every time she appears. EA meddling it must be, can't see any other reason, lol.

@MikeGosot: I've seen her on IGN I just didn't understand where all the hate came from. If we were a bunch of catty females I can kinda see why some people are acting the way they are. I see a pretty girl who got famous for licking a PSP oh well good for her. Wish I could get a good job by licking a PSP but alas I'm not a attractive caucasian woman so I got to work a little bit harder oh well i'm not going to hate though.

They should have used Cheapy D from Cheapassgamer. He's got a bland enough face that's perfect for video games.

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

@BrockNRolla: You're right, I don't like her model. But I have no issue with her as a person at all. And if Bioware chose to use a different person, one that I didn't recognize then yes, that would be better.

I have to say, that face is off-putting to me. I'm just curious why, if they were going to put a Mass Effect fan in the game with a bit of star power, they went to Chobot. Probably too much Felicia Day with that Dragon Age II stuff they did.

@Cloudenvy said:

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

You're right. She's got that extensive acting roster that we can all look at and make informed criticisms from.

I feel like some clarification is needed.

1. I have no problem with her as a person.

2. It's a big deal to me because it is going to break the immersion. If it doesn't for you, if you don't care either way, then awesome have a great time.

3. My not liking her in the game has nothing to do with her talents displayed while on TV, with IGN or any of her other acting exploits. It literally is that I recognize her from the 360 dashboard, from IGN and many other places and, so there.

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

You're right. She's got that extensive acting roster that we can all look at and make informed criticisms from.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046245/

She sure does.

@Cloudenvy said:

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

You're right. She's got that extensive acting roster that we can all look at and make informed criticisms from.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046245/

She sure does.

Right, because "Cross" is a movie that people have seen, so obviously it is informing these rants. And naturally, if a person has one bad role in one bad movie, they must be a terrible actor/actress.

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

You're right. She's got that extensive acting roster that we can all look at and make informed criticisms from.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046245/

She sure does.

Right, because "Cross" is a movie that people have seen, so obviously it is informing these rants. And naturally, if a person has one bad role in one bad movie, they must be a terrible actor/actress.

Unless you can provide some sort of proof that she has ANY talent as an actress, I'm more than pleased to join the optimistic side.

For now I only have this to go on.

@Cloudenvy said:

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@BrockNRolla said:

@Cloudenvy said:

@MikeGosot said:

@DeShawn2ks said:

Seeing a familiar face in a game doesn't bother me at all. I'm not going to hate on the people in the game until I see them in action. Also can someone please explain to me why we are supposed to hate Jessica Chobot again? I heard her on a few podcast before and she seemed cool. It just seems like we hate everything these days and I lose track sometimes about why we do.

She's from IGN(I think?), she can't act for shit.

This sums up why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3 preeeeetty well!

You're right. She's got that extensive acting roster that we can all look at and make informed criticisms from.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046245/

She sure does.

Right, because "Cross" is a movie that people have seen, so obviously it is informing these rants. And naturally, if a person has one bad role in one bad movie, they must be a terrible actor/actress.

Unless you can provide some sort of proof that she has ANY talent as an actress, I'm more than pleased to join the optimistic side.

For now I only have this to go on.

And that's more than enough to yell and complain about something on the internet.

Seeing how nervous this woman is making everyone makes me happy that I have no idea who she is.

@BrockNRolla: I don't think I'm yelling.

I'm sorry, do you think I'm trying to justify everyone's feelings on this? I'm just saying why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3, she seems like a terrible actress.

This is a thread about Chobot being in ME3, so of course I'm going to post my thoughts on her being in ME3 in here.

I barely know who Chobot is, and really couldn't care less either way, so take this next statement as coming from a neutral source:

Do you complain when you recognise an actor in a movie? No? Then shut the fuck up.

from the Chobot to the horrible book to the multiplayer...Im almost nervous about this game

@Cloudenvy said:

@BrockNRolla: I don't think I'm yelling.

I'm sorry, do you think I'm trying to justify everyone's feelings on this? I'm just saying why I don't like her being in Mass Effect 3, she seems like a terrible actress.

This is a thread about Chobot being in ME3, so of course I'm going to post my thoughts on her being in ME3 in here.

You know? You're not the worst of all this, and maybe I shouldn't steer my frustration toward you. I'm just extremely frustrated at all the anger being directed at her for being in this game. If it was anybody else, people just wouldn't be putting up a stink about it. The threads over the last two days on this site have been so negative toward her and have made me very upset with the users on this site. So apologies for attacking you on it.

If people don't want to see internet media faces in their games, that's a fine opinion to have. I just can't stand the vitriol being directed at her. She's just a girl on the internet. She didn't kill anyone's family. (That I know of.)

Can anyone of the top of their heads name the voice actors for Thane, for Wrex, for any of the other male or female voices (squadmates or NPC's) in the previous games (that aren't recognizable actors - voice or otherwise)? For all you know, there's plenty of voices in the games that are relatives or friends of Bioware staff.

As for the whole "it'll break the immersion rant" - does hearing Martin Sheen, Yvonne Stravinski or any other of the recognizable voices (and arguably likenesses) really take you out of the game that much? If it does, I can't imagine how you watch movies - how would you ever get over seeing the same actors play different people?

Man, and none of this actually has anything to do with the game itself, how it plays, the story, the improvements etc...

I don't even know what to say when I read these comments -.these sorts of non-controversies are the reason I still feel semi-ashamed when I tell other adults I like video games.

Attention whores... in my videogames? as if CliffyB wasn't enough. I have to get a new hobby, think i'm going with ferret legging http://j.mp/OUwZH

Same thing happened with Yvonne Strahovski.... they tried to model her in game (ME2) and the face just looks weird. They just need to use their own vision instead of trying to replicate someone.

@SteamPunkJin said:

@Coreymw said:

Especially one that is so well known. Mass Effect is all about immersion, the dialogue system, the way it moves from conversations to action, everything is done to enhance immersion. When the likeness of a familiar face is injected I'm immediately reminded that yes, I am playing a game. All of the work to make me forget that fact is undone.

This. I have a friend who screams at his TV whenever Joker talks because he hates Seth Green and can't get past it. I have to say, while I don't mind it, Kieth David's voice is so Iconic all I can think about is Kieth David when I hear Anderson talk. I also know some people who had a hard time w/ the latter half of Portal due to Cave Johnson's actor staring in all those Famers Insurance ads. Celebrity voices aren't always good to have.

As Iv'e said before on another thread that my only real problem with this alarming trend is that Bioware went from having appearances from legitimate sci-fi icons like Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, and Tricia Helfer, to Jessica Chobot and Freddie Prince Jr.?! And don't forget the Felicia Day they threw in between.

Hey Bioware! Stop trying to make us see how cool you are by putting video game d-list internet celebrities and get some actual sci-fi icons, or ACTORS, we care about. How about some Edward James Olmos, Mark Hamill or Brent Spiner. You know, people the sci fi community actually knows and cares.

As far as the Seth Green goes then he also makes Robot Chicken which is alright in my book. However, I would very much like to see your friend yelling at the TV when Joker speaks. I think a youtube video is in order.

@BrockNRolla: Apology accepted, though I really don't think it's anything to get frustrated about.

Considering she was the face of IGN for quite a while I doubt this is the worst that's been spoken about her on the internet

I disagree. I don't think she looks anything like the real Chobot. Maybe that's just me though.

Edit: I should add that I mean I would never have recognized that it was her had I not read that it was her.

@Tim_the_Corsair: I don't complain because that is where an actor is supposed to be, in a movie. Jessica is an internet/tv celebrity recognizable by countless people. When I'm playing a game based in a fantasy universe I don't want real world faces making an appearance.

@downtime58: I don't think you read, or understood my post at all. I'll summarize:

1. I don't want real world faces in my fantasy based games.

Not everybody is beautiful and not everybody should be. Personally i've never seen her and it doesnt really bother me. No one complains when an actor they recognize is in a movie anyway...

I despise her. She is one of the many pieces of fat gaming must cut before it can fully shed it's 28-year-olds-living-in-their-mother's-basement skin. I get why BioWare hired her, and hopefully her part will be small, but I'm not going to like it.

It isn't even about immersion or the facial model, it's just about me loathing Jessica Chobot. So much.

@MikeGosot: I've seen her on IGN I just didn't understand where all the hate came from. If we were a bunch of catty females I can kinda see why some people are acting the way they are. I see a pretty girl who got famous for licking a PSP oh well good for her. Wish I could get a good job by licking a PSP but alas I'm not a attractive caucasian woman so I got to work a little bit harder oh well i'm not going to hate though.

Meh, gamers these days :p

Dude, what-ever.

@Coreymw said:

@downtime58: I don't think you read, or understood my post at all. I'll summarize:

1. I don't want real world faces in my fantasy based games.

@Coreymw said:

@downtime58: I don't think you read, or understood my post at all. I'll summarize:

1. I don't want real world faces in my fantasy based games.

I understand what you're saying - I don't understand the inherent logic. Every game you play is populated with actors (often the same ones) and yet that doesn't seem to break the immersion factor - is likeness really the tipping point?

Maybe I don't see the difference between actors in a fantasy game and actors in a fantasy movie/tv show - just because I know it's Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones doesn't mean that I can't accept him playing a character - in my mind that's no different than accepting that Seth Green is Joker.

It's just uncanny valley.  I know people overuse and misuse that phrase, but in this case I think that is exactly what's happening.
 
I remember these experiments where scientists would place a fake chimpanzee into a group of real chimpanzees and if the fake was obviously a fake they wouldn't really care and if the fake was really good they might not be able to tell.  But there was this middle ground where it would be just fake enough to spot and just real enough to piss them off and the chimps would attack it and tear the fake apart.
 
That middle ground in this situation, scanning a real persons face into a video game, is essentially the same thing.  It doesn't look real enough to you, but it looks close enough to annoy you.

I'm not bothered because - you know - it's voice acting. I'll just judge her performance when I'm playing the actual game.

Hey, at least they didn't get Olivia Munn.